SPARKS PUSH ASIDE COMETS FOUR-TIME WNBA CHAMPIONS GO OUT IN FIRST ROUND SPARKS 70, HOUSTON 58.

Byline: Pamela Lewis Staff Writer

Here's a trivia question for WNBA fans 10 years from now: Which team dethroned the four-time WNBA champion Houston Comets to pave the way for a new champion?

Answer: The Los Angeles Sparks.

The Sparks did what no other team could in the first four years of the league. They eliminated Houston from the playoffs, beating the Comets 70-58 in the first round of the WNBA playoffs Monday at Staples Center.

``I think everybody in the world will be happy,'' said Van Chancellor, the charismatic Houston coach. ``I'm not very happy about it.''

Tina Thompson, a four-time WNBA All-Star, suffered a torn calf muscle in her left leg with 11:03 remaining and had to be carried off the court.

The Sparks play at Sacramento Friday in the Western Conference finals.

Sparks center Lisa Leslie, who recovered from a shaky start, had a phenomenal game, with 28 points, one under her playoff high, and a league-playoff record 18 rebounds.

``There have been so many things that happened special this season that we can't even appreciate it,'' said Leslie, who had three turnovers in the first four minutes but committed only one the rest of the way.

With the victory, the Sparks kept their perfect home record intact with 17 victories this season, in front of a sparse crowd of 8,730.

More important, they removed that mental block - the Comets - who ended the Sparks postseason the last two years. None hurt more than last year's sweep in the Western Conference finals. This year, the Sparks swept the Comets in the best-of-three series, winning the opener in Houston.

``It was a tough series,'' said Sparks coach Michael Cooper. ``We learned from last year's loss to the Houston Comets and it only made us stronger. It was unfortunate for Tina when she went down, but like the old saying goes, 'You only play who's in front of you.' I hope that she's doing well and I know that they will be back next year with (Sheryl) Swoopes.''

It took the Sparks awhile to shake the Comets, even when the visitors were without Thompson.

Guard Janeth Arcain, who asked to be taken out four minutes into the second half after re-aggravating tendinitis in her right knee, returned when Thompson left.

The Sparks went five minutes without a field goal until Tamecka Dixon scored with 5:32 to go. She sparked a 9-0 run that put the Sparks ahead 61-54 with 3:41 to play.

``We were going to win this game. We just had to break it open,'' Leslie said.

The Sparks outrebounding the Comets 41-31. Houston struggled from beyond the arc, going 3 for 18. Arcain scored 13 of her 18 points in the first half; however, she was 0 for 5 from 3-point range. Thompson had 13 points and five rebounds in 28 minutes.

Dixon had 12 points, four rebounds and three steals, and Ukari Figgs had 11 points and nine assists for the Sparks.

The Comets scored the game's first six points, prompting Cooper to call a timeout.

Leslie hit a 3-pointer and then a layup to give the Sparks their first lead with 13:46 to play. The lead changed hands four more times.

Leslie's 17-foot jumper ignited a 9-2 run that gave the Sparks a 30-24 margin. She had 15 first-half points and 12 rebounds, four less than Houston's total.

CAPTION(S):

2 photos

Photo:

(1 -- color) Center Lisa Leslie of the Sparks drives uncontested for a layup.

(2) Houston Comets defender Conquese Washington tries to get the ball away from the Sparks' Ukari Figg.

Edna Trunnell-Simpson/Staff Photographer